How to Choose a Single Room Humidifier
A single-room humidifier is an inexpensive yet effective way to increase moisture in area of the home, and provides a number of health benefits for those who suffer from allergies or asthma. Different types of humidifiers are available, catering to different needs and environments. You can select either a warm-mist or cool-mist humidifier; each type has a number of devices that provide added moisture. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Purchase a humidifier based on area coverage. The total area the humidifier adequately covers is typically listed on the side of the humidifier's box. Buy a humidifier that covers all or slightly less than the space of your individual room. A powerful humidifier may seem like the better choice, but too much moisture in the air increases the risk of mildew production. Multiply your room's length and width in feet to determine the square footage of your room.
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Select the humidifier based on the season. Warm-mist humidifiers are ideal for the fall and winter as they provide warmth in addition to moisture, but can be uncomfortable if used during the summer. A cool-mist humidifier is ideal for the spring and summer, when your home is typically stuffy and warm. Some humidifiers have the ability to switch between warm mist and cool mist, and are the ideal machines to use if you live in a climate that has extreme weather changes.
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Pick the best machine based on safety. While any machine is potentially harmful if misused, a warm-mist humidifier has an increased risk of injury to small children or pets if the machine is tipped over. While newer humidifiers are safer to prevent injury, the risk of fire is possible if the machine is left on and the tank's water supply is completely depleted.
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Tips & Warnings
Look for a humidifier that has an automatic shut-off feature once the machine's tank is empty, as this reduces the risk of fire.
Choose a machine that is capable of handling hard water, as the minerals in hard water can cause some humidifiers to underperform.
You don't want to raise humidity in a room by more than 40 percent. Once you change the humidity to over 50 percent, it will encourage mold growth and dust mite populations. If you live in a dry area, a single room humidifier won't usually be able to raise the humidity to or beyond 30 percent. However if you live in an area that already has humidity in the air, you should only consider units that have a humidistat or only turn on the unit at night to add moisture in the room. If you use the "turn off" option, then be aware that you will need to drain out the water and let it dry out during the day.
Warm air humidifier can contain a heating element, which is not advisable for a child's room or for use by the elderly.
